With just a few days until the election, the 18- to 24-year-old demographic has the potential to make its most significant impact in the history of presidential elections. But how much young voters will be able to “rock the vote” remains uncertain.

Election excitement has greatly increased since the 2004 presidential election, said Bruce Vlk, deputy director of programs at the Center for Politics. Looking on Grounds, one can feel that energy, he said. Progressive Future, a non-partisan organization whose goal is to increase youth voter turnout, recently has stationed volunteers by the South Lawn and Alderman Library to convince students to vote. The organization, with its 75 on-Grounds volunteers, asks students to “pledge to vote” by signing a pledge saying that they promise to vote. Progressive Future has volunteers in 16 other college campuses in swing states across the nation, said Dave Ebner, a Progressive Future volunteer at the University.

Youth voting is a critical “untapped resource” that candidates are slowly beginning to recognize, Ebner said.

Progressive Future also hosts events such as its “All Night for Democracy,” during which volunteers will stay up 24 hours beginning Monday calling students and reminding them to vote, Ebner said.

“The youth vote should turn out record numbers,” Ebner said. “Voting is kind of like your first in. Hopefully, we’re building people that are activists in the future.”

Vlk said while he expects the young voter demographic turnout to increase, people should be wary of over-hyping and exaggerating the youth vote.

“A lot of cynicism still persists about the youth turnout,” he said.

Assoc. Politics Prof. Paul Freedman, though, said “We expect that young people will make a big mark on the election.”

A recent poll conducted by CBS News, UWire and The Chronicle of Higher Education suggested that most students have not shown enthusiasm for political activities other than saying they plan to vote. The poll was conducted at 49 four-year colleges and universities in the battleground states of Colorado, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. About 51 percent of registered voters who were surveyed said they were paying “a lot” of attention to the presidential campaign, in contrast to the 65 percent of all adult registered voters who said they were following the presidential campaign closely in the most recent CBS News/New York Times poll. About 34 percent said they had displayed a campaign sign or worn campaign-related clothing or a button, though fewer than 13 percent had volunteered for a campaign.

Whether they choose to vote or volunteer, young voters are part of the reason that Virginia has gained its swing-state status this year, Politics graduate student Drew Kurlowski said.

Kurlowski, who studied youth voting in 2004, found that youth voting did not significantly impact the 2004 election. In 2004, voters between the ages of 18 and 24 had the lowest turnout of any age group. Not only did their low turnout affect their minimal impact, but they were closely split between John Kerry and George W. Bush, Kurlowski said.

This year, however, the Democratic advantage has nearly doubled from 13 percent in 2004 to 24 percent, Kurlowski said.

“They definitely look more Democratic than anything this year,” he said. “And they definitely have the potential to have the largest impact than any other election.”

But just because the young look Democratic does not necessarily mean they are becoming more Democratic than Republican.

“Do we see youth actually becoming more Democratic, or is it just because the Democratic Party is reaching out to youth better than the Republican [Party]?” Kurlowski asked.

He also cautioned that simply because the Barack Obama camp has registered many young voters, registration does not necessarily translate into votes. He questioned whether 18- to 24-year olds will actually be willing to go to the polls Nov. 4 and cast their ballots.

“Every year we’re saying the same thing, ‘This is going to be the year for youth,’” Kurlowski said. “We’re a small demographic that rarely votes. And yes, we can have an impact on the election, but I don’t think we’re going to be a deciding factor on the election.”

Kurlowski noted that he believes one demographic is not responsible for swinging elections one way or another.

“It’s not a good thing to say that one group, race or interest group is going to swing the election,” Kurlowski said. “They’re not going to control the election. But they’re a general blueing of the entire country. But will they show up to vote? Who knows.”

Peter Levine, Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement director at Tufts University, said he believes that Obama will not be able to capture a swing state such as Virginia without the youth vote, though. What makes the youth critical is that young people are a rather large demographic and are leaning heavily toward one candidate, he said.

“If young voters represent one in five voters and you’re leading by two to one among them, then I don’t think you could afford to lose that group without losing the election,” Levine said.

Even if Virginia remains red, Ebner said, he believes his organization’s efforts will still get politicians to pay closer attention to younger voters. He cited Colorado as an example: Although it was a key battleground state in 2004, it ended up voting in favor of the Republican Party as it had in previous elections. Nevertheless, because of the close margin of victory in 2004, Colorado has remained a key state to which politicians are still devoting attention, Ebner said.

While there is little question that young voters will have some impact come Nov. 4, the degree of that involvement remains to be seen.
“This election will be very telling [about whether] it will have an impact in the future,” Vlk said.

Citing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s technological savvy and technology policies, Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt expressed his support for the Illinois senator yesterday at the Law School.

Schmidt and Obama’s technology advisor Julius Genachowski made a stop in Charlottesville yesterday in an effort to garner support for the presidential candidate and his technology policies. The pair spoke on a wide variety of issues from income disparity to using the Internet as a means for civic engagement, but the primary focus was Obama’s technology policies.

Obama “sees technology as the key part of a solution to almost every problem we face,” Genachowski said. “He believes in using technology to make the government more transparent, more participatory and thus more effective.”

Schmidt also noted that Obama attained his current level of success at least partly because of the Internet.

“When he started out, he didn’t have enough money for blanket TV ads,” Schmidt said, noting that Obama therefore used the Internet to rally support and collect donations.

Praising Obama’s desire to expand high-speed Internet access, Schmidt also said even though the Democratic Party tends to support smaller businesses and the Republican Party’s goals tend to be more in line with those of CEOs such as himself, Obama’s vision for technology and business defies those boundaries.

According to Obama’s Web site, Obama “strongly support[s] the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet” and wants to “ensure [American] goods and services are treated fairly in foreign markets.” The site also states that Obama wishes to “encourage a modern communications infrastructure, prepare all of our children for a 21st century economy,” “improve America’s competitiveness,” and “employ science and technology to solve our nation’s most pressing problems.”

In this regard, Assoc. Media Studies Prof. Siva Vaidhyanathan explained that he thinks Obama is attempting to create a path that seeks to solve the multiple levels of the current economic crisis.

“American business understands that if we don’t solve the health care crisis and the energy crisis then we’re all going down,” Vaidhyanathan said. “So it’s in everyone’s interest to address those two issues front and center as a part of the economic recovery, and Obama has clearly offered a path to dealing with both of those issues.”

But Vaidhyanathan also said it is important to understand that large business executives may not be choosing candidates to support only for the sake of supporting a candidate.

“Nobody does something for nothing,” Vaidhyanathan said. “In the case of Eric Schmidt, Google is about to face some major scrutiny by the … Justice Department for their merger with DoubleClick … and for Google Books.”

Vaidhyanthan noted that much of corporate America, potentially including Google, would like it known that they are on the side of the prospective winners and that they would like some leniency when it comes to regulation.

Schmidt has also been rumored to be a possible candidate for a cabinet-level position Obama proposed to create upon becoming president. When asked whether he would consider filling the Chief Technology Officer position, however, Schmidt said no.

Schmidt added that his reason for choosing Obama instead of Republican presidential candidate John McCain was also partly based on his belief that McCain does not use existing and future technologies to his benefit.

“Obama uses the technology young people use, establishing a sense of kinship,” Schmidt said. “It actually matters that you use this stuff.”
Hoos for McCain President Sweeney, however, said that just because Obama is more technologically savvy than McCain does not make him necessarily more qualified for the Oval Office.

“I think the fact that Obama knows how to write an e-mail and that McCain doesn’t is not a strong form of differentiation to be the president of the United States,” Sweeney said. “It reflects the age of the people helping him out and the overall mindset of people in the campaign. Knowing how to employ technology doesn’t make Obama more fit to help technological businesses, either.”

Clark Stevens, an Obama campaign spokesperson, though, said Obama’s grasp of technology is certainly relevant to a presidential race.
“Obama’s Internet campaign is only the beginning of how Obama would harness the power of the Internet to transform government and politics,” Stevens said. “Barack Obama will use the most current technological tools available to make government less beholden to special interest groups and lobbyists and promote citizen participation in government decision-making.”

Schmidt suggested that it may be time for a more technologically literate president to take office.

“If you don’t think it’s time for a change, then you’re not angry enough,” the Virginia native said.

Since 2001, Schmidt has been the CEO of Google. He and Genachowski also made a similar stop at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond yesterday as part of the Obama campaign’s Get Out the Vote efforts.

In an effort to increase environmental awareness before the upcoming presidential election, the Student Environmental Action group hosted a non-partisan rally yesterday afternoon in front of the Brown Science and Engineering Library.

As part of the “HallowGreen” movement, based in Arlington, Va., to unite young activists on the issues of climate change and clean energy, rally attendees traveled toward the Downtown Mall to visit and to deliver a letter to local political offices in order to show that many young voters are concerned about energy and environmental issues.

Fourth-year College student Lynne Ellison, a rally participant, said the primary purpose of the rally was to “hold the future president, whoever he is, accountable for environmental awareness.”

Fellow participant Daniel Michaelson, a third-year College and Engineering student, said although he does not think the rally will impact the upcoming election, he believes it will make observers more aware of present sustainability issues.

The group’s letter reminds candidates for political office that “the climate crisis does not end on November 4th and neither does student interest in environmental issues.” It states that they will be watching to ensure the elected president upholds his platform while in office, highlighting the local adverse environmental implications of mountaintop removal for coal extraction and the prospect of developing clean coal burning practices.

Cordel Faulk, Center for Politics Communications Director, said he is unsure whether the HallowGreen movement and the affiliated rally yesterday could have any significant impact on potential voters but noted that actions such as these can certainly affect officials seeking election who see just how important this issue is to their constituents.

Faulk said he believes energy and environmental issues are very important in the upcoming election, noting that “it’s crept up in the national agenda since the 1970s,” especially among suburban voters. These suburban voters are particularly important in this presidential election, Faulk said, and environmental issues therefore might play a more vital role in the election.

Faulk added that issues regarding energy and the environment are critical because they also affects the economy; he noted that problems such as fluctuating gas prices and our dependence on foreign oil have “taken a huge chunk out of the economy.”

Possible Class 1 Misdemeanor charges, punishable by as much as a year in jail and a $2,500 fine at the Commonwealth’s attorney’s discretion, await voters who choose to wear their political party affiliations to the polls during Election Day, according to a recent clarification to the Code of Virginia by the Virginia State Board of Elections. Several free expression and civil liberty organizations are now considering possible lawsuits against the Board because of the rule.

In a statement released Oct. 14, the board said it is illegal for voters to wear any sort of campaign materials when they go to vote and are within 40 feet of a polling entrance Nov. 4. If voters choose to wear buttons, hats, shirts and other political paraphernalia to the polls, they will be asked to remove or cover the items while they vote.

Several civil liberty groups, however, believe the rule is a violation of individuals’ right to free speech. Two Charlottesville-based groups, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression and the Rutherford Institute, have teamed with the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia to fight against the State Board of Elections policy, representatives of those groups said, and are presently considering taking legal action depending on how the policy is enforced at the polls.

Josh Wheeler, Thomas Jefferson Center associate director, said the board’s policy “goes too far” and is a clear violation of the First Amendment.

“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” Wheeler said.

The law itself is actually a reinterpretation of an older law, Wheeler noted, adding that he believes the original policy was fine as is. According to the original law, found in the Code of Virginia section 24.2-604, it is unlawful for someone to “solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any person in casting his vote” within 40 feet of any polling entrance as well as inside the polling location. In its Oct. 14 release, the Board stated the regulation prohibiting persons from wearing any attire for or against a candidate is simply a clarified reinterpretation of the law, according to the release.

Rick Sincere, Charlottesville Electoral Board secretary, said the recent reinterpretation was a result of “individual localities interpreting and enforcing the law” in an uneven manner. The Virginia State Board of Elections statement is an attempt to have all commonwealth voting precincts enforce the law in a uniform manner, Sincere added.  

Rutherford Institute President John Whitehead, though, said the regulation is part of an emerging anti-free speech trend seen since the 1990s.

“People value free speech less than we used to,” Whitehead said, adding that he has seen an overall cultural trend of “tightening free speech.”  

Whitehead said several Supreme Court decisions have upheld laws similar to the original regulation prohibiting attempts to influence voter decisions but noted that he believes the Virginia State Board of Elections has “taken a law and expanded it” in a clear violation of free speech.

The original law, Whitehead said, “was intended to apply to active speech” when people try to impose their own beliefs on others at the polls and not on “silent, private expression.”

Passive speech such as the wearing of political apparel involves the individual voter alone, Wheeler said, and in no way impacts anyone else. Moreover, the guidelines might be seen as creating more confusion in regards to how the policy will be enforced and how violators will be punished, he added.

According to the State Board of Election statement, if a voter refuses to comply with the policy, the registrar will file the incident and report it to the Electoral Board, which will then review the report and send it to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Voters will still be given the chance to vote, but violators could face Class 1 Misdemeanor charges.

Sincere noted that “no one will be turned away. Any [legal] action will be done after Election Day.”  

Opponents of the regulation, such as the Thomas Jefferson Center, acknowledge that the State Board of Elections has assured that everyone will still be allowed to vote regardless of whether they cooperate with the policy.

“In some way these guidelines offer a little bit of reassurance in that no one will be prevented from voting even if they refuse” to remove their items, Wheeler said.

Whitehead noted that he does not anticipate that the regulation will affect voter turnout.

“This election is so important,” Whitehead said.

Meanwhile, Charlottesville Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Claude Worrell said he anticipates no problems Nov. 4 and does not foresee any charges being filed. Whitehead and Wheeler both said, though, that the ACLU of Virginia, the Thomas Jefferson Center and the Rutherford Institute may still file a lawsuit against the State Board of Elections after the upcoming election.

“We’re going to wait and see what happens,” Whitehead said.

Sincere, though, said because Virginia’s voting policy laws are already among “the least restrictive in the nation” and “very liberal,” he believes the groups will have little success if they choose to file a lawsuit.

While a record amount of financial aid was granted to students last year, the amount of money students are borrowing to finance their educations is increasing, according to a College Board report released Wednesday.

The report, which surveyed more than 3,100 higher education institutions, also found that American college and university tuition costs grew slightly faster than the Consumer Price Index last year.

Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of the student-aid Web site FinAid, said although the College Board report clearly shows a trend of increased student borrowing and increased financial need, the fact that the report does not include data from the most recent months suggests that those trends may intensify in the near future. The current economic downturn could have possibly severe, negative ramifications for students as well, he said.

“We’re going to see with public colleges the same phenomenon there is every time we have a recession,” he said. “The first place the state cuts costs is higher education.”

Earlier this fall, the commonwealth reduced its funding for the University by $10.6 million. Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget, said the University asked all schools and departments to plan for a reduced budget as a result.

To better offset the budget cuts, though, the University also submitted a plan to the governor’s office to raise the cost of tuition, Sheehy said. She also noted, however, that tuition increases are standard every year unless the government disallows it.

“In some years we’re able to [fund the costs of the University] with general fund dollars from the state and tuition,” Sheehy said. “Next year there [are] indications of no general fund dollars [meaning] we’ll have to rely more heavily on tuition than at other times.”

The only source of revenue directly under public universities’ control is tuition, Kantrowitz said. To make up for shortfalls in their budgets, many public universities will likely increase tuition, he added, noting that current and prospective students will then have to analyze the cost of attendance more closely and consider financial aid. Private colleges, he noted, are less dependent on tuition for revenue and thus will probably keep tuition increases to a minimum.

Although institutions of higher education may want to increase tuition to make up for the shortfalls in their budgets, Kantrowitz said these increased costs will harm students and their families.

“Right now is the worst time to increase tuition because it’s when families are hurting the most,” he said, noting that alternatives to raising tuition include increasing class size and cutting energy costs, he added.

Faced with rising tuition costs in a worsening economy, those families also become more likely to apply for financial aid, Kantrowitz said.

In the first six months of 2008, student applications for federal financial aid rose 16 percent compared to during the previous year, said Tony Pals, National Association for Independent Colleges and Universities spokesperson. He noted that this number surely has continued to rise in the past few months as the economic situation has worsened.

While overall college costs have increased in recent years, University Financial Aid Director Yvonne Hubbard said she feels that the increases at the University have been steady and appropriate. Students have always had to balance their families’ financial situations when choosing a university, she added, but this is one reason that the University is adamant about guaranteeing aid for any qualifying student. She noted that while the University has already seen a small increase in the number of applications for financial aid, it will not see the full effects of the economic crisis until next year.

The University also has no plans to cut merit-based or athletic scholarships, Hubbard noted. The University offers few merit-based scholarships, all of which are funded through the University’s endowment, which remains strong despite the current financial situation, Hubbard said.

Athletic Director Craig Littlepage, meanwhile, also noted that although the current economic conditions affect the entire University, including the athletic department, athletic scholarships funding will not be cut because the athletic department will instead control and cut costs in other areas. He noted, however, that tuition increases also increase the athletic department’s spending on scholarships and summer school.

Assoc. Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts said he has yet to see the current economy significantly affect the number of applications to the University but noted that the “yield” of students accepting admission offers could be impacted by the economic downturn. Students offered admission to multiple schools, including the University, may have to weigh financial aid offers and the cost of attendance before deciding on a school, Roberts said.

“It may come down to what happens in the spring,” Roberts said, adding that the University is “lucky” to have a strong financial aid program that can help students in need.

In an Oct. 30 picture caption, a  photo of George Washington’s statue near the Lawn was mistakenly identified as a statue of Thomas Jefferson. The Cavalier Daily regrets the error.

After Virginia’s come-from-behind win against then-No. 18 Georgia Tech last Saturday, the Cavaliers have become the epitome of the phrase “from worst to first.” After an abysmal start to the season, the Cavaliers (5-3, 3-1 ACC) now hold the top spot in the ACC Coastal Division. Virginia now controls its own destiny for a shot in the ACC Championship game, a quest that begins Saturday when it hosts Miami.

The Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2 ACC) come to Charlottesville Homecoming Weekend to face a surging Virginia squad that is 4-1 at home and is coming off two consecutive upsets against ranked opponents that have the team’s confidence level high.

“Any time you’re able to prepare from a foundation of confidence, it’s a more advantageous circumstance, and confidence only comes from demonstrated performance,” Virginia coach Al Groh said.

Both squads enter the game on winning streaks — Virginia comes off four straight victories while the Hurricanes have captured three in a row. One winning streak will end though, when the ACC foes meet for the first time since Virginia trounced Miami 48-0 last year in the Hurricanes’ final game at the Orange Bowl.

“I’m sure it’s going to be on their minds,” senior linebacker Clint Sintim said of last year’s beating. “I’m sure they are going to be fired up and try to come here and really stick it to us.”

Miami will have to penetrate an offensive line that has been nothing short of stellar as of late. Sophomore quarterback Marc Verica is completing 67 percent of his passes behind great protection, while the line is also providing holes for the ACC’s third-leading rusher, senior halfback Cedric Peerman.

“Every one of the five is playing better now than he did in the beginning,” Groh said of the offensive line. “Collectively as a group they’re playing much more cohesively together.”

The line is led by junior tackle Will Barker, who was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after his performance against Georgia Tech. Barker’s strong play comes after being acquitted of a petty larceny charge Oct. 6.

“It’s a weighty matter to hang over a kid’s head,” Groh said. “Probably once that depth was properly cleared, it enabled him to relax a bit.”

Virginia, however, does not plan to overlook a very athletic Miami squad. Miami’s victories have come against, among others, Texas A&M, Wake Forest and Duke, the latter of which gave Virginia its lone ACC loss. Though young, the Hurricanes feature an effective two-quarterback system of freshmen Robert Marve and Jacory Harris, much like the rotation Virginia Tech used last season with Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor.

“They’re both very athletic players,” Groh said. “They’re very effective outside the pocket, and Miami conducts the same game with both of them.”

The raw athleticism of the Hurricanes presents a concern for the Cavalier defense in particular. What Miami lacks in experience, it makes up for with speed and power.

“I think [Miami] is probably the most talented team we’ll play, as far as an athletic standpoint, next to the University of Southern California,” Sintim said. “They’ve got a lot of playmakers.”

Virginia may be without key players on both sides of the ball. Redshirt freshman defensive end Zane Parr, who has seen action in six games this season, underwent surgery on his meniscus and will miss some time. Also, junior fullback Rashawn Jackson may miss the game, pending charges of breaking and entering and grand larceny stemming from an incident at Cauthen dormitory last November.

Despite these challenges, Virginia hopes to extend its winning streak to five and continue its push for national recognition in the BCS rankings. A win can almost guarantee a bowl game, something that seemed nearly impossible at the beginning of the season but now seems almost inevitable.

“One of the things that did get us to this point was that the players were always listening to the message and stayed with it,” Groh said.  “We’re appreciative of that and give them a lot of credit for that.”

As the rest of the University prepares for Halloween festivities tonight, the Virginia men’s soccer team has other things on its mind. Tonight Virginia will host No. 5 Maryland at Klöckner Stadium in a game with major ACC Tournament implications. The high-octane Terrapins travel to Charlottesville with the No. 8 offense in the nation, sporting an average of 2.25 goals per game. Virginia (9-5-1, 4-2 ACC) will look to knock off the favored Terrapins (13-3-0, 4-2 ACC) in the Cavaliers’ penultimate conference contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

“They’re a good team, we know them very well, they know us well; I’m sure they were here [Tuesday] watching [us play],” Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said.

Virginia enters tonight’s game coming off the heels of an important victory: a 4-2 win Tuesday night against a tough and competitive American squad. The win was Virginia’s first in three games and was also the first game during which the Cavaliers managed more than two goals in nearly three weeks. Furthermore, junior midfielder Jonathan Villanueva — an important member of Virginia’s attack — netted his first two goals of the season while also recording two assists.

Maryland comes to Charlottesville as one of the hottest teams in the country. The Terrapins have won six straight games and have put up big wins against UCLA, Duke, Boston College, N.C. State and Virginia Tech. Maryland’s most recent loss came nearly a month ago when the Terrapins suffered a 5-3 loss at Clemson.

Unfortunately for Virginia, Maryland’s relentless offense will also be making the trip to Virginia. The Terrapins boast two players with 10 goals each and two others with at least four goals. Virginia, on the other hand, has three players each with four goals or more, none of whom has more than nine. Furthermore, two of Virginia’s three leading scorers have sustained major injuries. Junior midfielder Jeremy Hall and freshman forward Casey Townsend form a dynamic scoring duo that has given Maryland opponents headaches all season long.
“We’re on our home field, and I think we just need to play well,” Gelnovatch said. “If we play like Tuesday in terms of being able to keep the ball and move the ball, hopefully we can keep [Townsend and Hall] contained.”

Despite the problems Maryland will present, Virginia remains confident that it can knock off the high-ranked Terrapins. With the ACC’s two best teams traveling to Charlottesville during successive Fridays, tonight’s contest will go a long way toward determining Virginia’s seeding in the upcoming ACC Tournament. A victory could set up Virginia with an easier path, while a defeat could set Virginia back in the pack and make things much more difficult. Whatever the case may be, Virginia remains confident that it can avoid a Halloween nightmare.

“We feel with the talent that we have that we can come out here and beat anybody, especially at home,” Villanueva said. “Anything less than a draw is really a disappointment for us.”

It was a cold night at Klöckner Stadium as the Virginia women’s soccer team matched up against Duke. The offenses of both teams were kept as cold as the night air by two of the country’s best defenses, with neither team managing a goal in the 90 minutes of regulation nor the two periods of overtime. Although the game ended in a 0-0 draw, the Cavaliers were able to rattle off 22 shots to the Blue Devils’ six.

“With the way the game went our team is disappointed it didn’t come away with 3 points tonight,” Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. “We clearly had our chances. We did enough good things to win the game. But we didn’t take our chances well.

A Virginia set piece in the 82nd almost gave the Cavaliers the edge as a shot that deflected off the Duke goalie almost dribbled across the goal line but was called null because of a Cavalier foul in the box.

“We are usually pretty good on our set pieces,” Swanson said. “I thought we were dangerous at times. From the run of play we have to get a little sharper and make a little bit better decisions, and that will make the difference.”

Virginia kept up the pressure and gave itself another scoring opportunity just three minutes later in the form of a cross from freshman forward Lauren Alwine that was headed wide by sophomore forward Meghan Lenczyk.

“You couldn’t say that we were pressing the issue and you couldn’t say that we had the energy tonight and you couldn’t say we had the effort tonight,” Swanson said, adding, “certainly the result is disappointing given the way the game went.”

Six more shots from the Cavaliers in overtime couldn’t secure a Virginia victory. The Cavaliers took another set piece from just outside the 18 and managed a shot on goal that took a diving save from Duke goalie Cassidy Powers to keep the game alive.

“Its always frustrating when your team’s getting shots on goal but can’t put them away,” senior defender Alli Fries said. “But that’s soccer — it’s a game of inches. [You] can’t really count on the shot count; it’s got to go in the back of the net.”

As frustrated as the coach and players on the Cavalier side of the pitch might be, against a team as good as Duke, Swanson saw positives from the outcome and, as always, things from which the team can learn.

“I’m very proud of the kids to shut down a team like Duke,” Swanson said. “I thought the defense played overall for the majority of the game extremely well. We did a great job; we generated a lot of chances. I think there are a lot of things we can learn from the game heading into the game Sunday against Wake Forest.”

The orange and blue now look to their last game of the season Sunday. The Demon Deacons sit at sixth on the ACC table with a 3-5-0 in conference record, 10-6-0 overall.

“Tomorrow at practice we will definitely be talking about it,” Fries said. “It’s out last game at Klöckner — our last guaranteed game at Klöckner … definitely we need to put it all out there. It’s senior day and so we need to work hard for everyone.”

Tonight Wake Forest secured an ACC playoff berth by defeating Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Momentum will be in the Deacons’ favor Sunday, but Swanson feels prepared and confident.

“Everybody knows that these last four games were always tough games,” Swanson said. “There’s nothing that we didn’t know. The big challenge for us is to get regenerated, get recovered and go out and get back and finish what we didn’t do tonight. I’m confident; I think our team can beat anybody any given day.”

The Cavalier field hockey team will hit the turf Saturday for a game against No. 4 Duke that has huge consequences for both the ACC and NCAA tournaments. A win in Durham would end the No. 13 Cavaliers’ season on a high note and keep their dreams of their third consecutive NCAA Tournament alive, especially after their crushing loss to Wake Forest at home last weekend.

“We still have a chance to get into the NCAA,” senior back Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn said. “[Last weekend’s game was] probably a pretty big loss but it’s over now, and we gotta look at the next game.”

The problem is that Virginia does not play its best on the road. The team is 10-2 at home on the season, while going 1-5 on the road. The Cavaliers dropped their last road contest, a 3-0 heartbreaker to then-No. 7 North Carolina. This is the team’s final chance to win one on the road, and the game couldn’t come at a more crucial time.

“I take one game at a time and I am confident that the team will come to play,” coach Michele Madison said. “That is what they have always done. It’s been a challenge to go on the road. They have to learn to play on the road. They have one more chance to do it.”

On a side note, Cavalier freshman midfield/back Rachel Jennings is going to be facing her sister, Tara, on the field Saturday. The girls are two of a set of triplets; their other sister, Erin, plays field hockey at Princeton.

“I definitely have the best team — it’s obvious,” Rachel Jennings said. “I think we have the potential to be the best in the ACC and the NCAA. Every practice we see it more and more. So if we just play to our potential, I think we have the best team in the NCAA.”

The Cavaliers, however, have been suffering for the past few weeks because of a bout of injuries that has decimated the team. Only now, at the end of the season, is the team adjusting to a new rotation and learning to adapt to the new team dynamic.

“I think overall injuries affected our team. The weekend we went to Penn State we had five to six people hurt, people didn’t practice that week, and that’s when we kind of lost it,” junior midfielder/forward Traci Ragukas said. “Throwing people in that weren’t in there it gets hectic when you get used to playing with the same people. It kind of messes up the flow of the game, but I think we are adjusting well now.”

Virginia’s stiffest competition this season has come against ACC teams such as Maryland, Wake Forest and UNC. All of those teams, along with Duke, await the Cavaliers in the ACC and the NCAA tournaments. The Cavaliers have a chance this Saturday to send a message to those teams as well as to the other NCAA-bound teams.

This weekend the Cavaliers have a chance to win on the road and to down an ACC and national power. It would be the beginning of a strong case for a bid to the NCAA Tournament and it would give the Cavaliers some momentum heading into next week’s ACC Tournament.